Trump says TikTok deal with China could be close as talks begin this week

"I think we're gonna start Monday or Tuesday...talking to China, perhaps President Xi or one of his representatives, but we would pretty much have a deal," Trump told reporters on Air Force One.

Last month, Trump extended the deadline until September 17 for the Chinese company ByteDance to divest its US TikTok assets.

Earlier this spring, officials discussed a deal to create a new company for TikTok's US operations. Under that proposal, American investors would have majority ownership and control. However, the plan stalled after China said it would not approve the deal, following Trump’s announcement of new tariffs on Chinese goods.

Trump acknowledged that the deal would likely require China's approval.

When asked how confident he was that Beijing would agree, Trump said: "I'm not confident, but I think so. President Xi and I have a great relationship, and I think it's good for them. I think the deal is good for China, and it's good for us."

TikTok in the US

Back in 2024, the US Congress passed a law requiring TikTok to be sold to an American investor. The effort began under President Joe Biden. If the sale doesn't go through, the app could be banned nationwide.

However, after returning to power, Trump has postponed the enforcement of this law three times. He even claimed that TikTok helped him gain support from young voters during the campaign.

The most recent delay came in April 2025, prompting concern among US lawmakers. Some urged Trump to take a firm stance — either move forward with a ban or clearly explain his next steps.

Overall, the US political establishment remains worried that American users' personal data could be handed over to the Chinese government or that TikTok could be used for disinformation campaigns.

On June 19, Trump once again postponed the ban on the app.